Taking It to the House’s Lloyd Vance is predicting a big year for Safety Troy Polamalu (Defensive MVP pick) and the defending Super Bowl champion Pittsburgh Steelers

Once again it is time for me to get out my crystal ball and see if I can prognosticate the upcoming NFL season. As all of my friends can attest to, I have never been totally right or wrong and I have never gotten the Super Bowl match-up or champion completely right.

The 2008 NFL season was evidence that in the league’s almost 90-year history that nothing is predictable. I am still looking for the person that could have predicted events like the long downtrodden Arizona Cardinals going to the Super Bowl led by retread quarterback Kurt Warner, New England Patriots superstar quarterback Tom Brady getting hurt on the first series of the Pats’ first game of the season and rookie quarterbacks Joe Flacco (Baltimore Ravens) and Matt Ryan (Atlanta Falcons) leading their respective teams to the playoffs.

Maybe this year I will be the envy of my doubters — Big V, I am specifically talking to you. However you know I will probably have to eat some crow later this season from the predictions that I am about to make.

My annual reading of the NFL’s tea leaves is all in good fun, so with the season almost ready to kickoff –Thursday September 10th with the defending Super Bowl Champion Pittsburgh Steelers hosting the Tennessee Titans — we can all rejoice and say “Hallelujah” as the 2009 NFL Season is finally here.

(Philadelphia, Pa) — Apparently the upcoming NFL Owners’ Meetings in West Palm, Florida will resemble many American households from the 1960’s as hair length and style take center stage. The Kansas City Chiefs have put forth before the owners a proposed rule that would require players to wear their hair in a way (“tuck” it) so that it doesn’t obscure the name plate on the backs of their jerseys.

Sure they are saying that it is a safety issue and that they are not telling players to “cut” their hair due to CBA language that forbids such edicts –The NFL Collective Bargaining Agreement between the NFL and the NFLPA expressly prohibits the imposition of discipline based on facial hair or hair length… ACLU would be on the phone quicker than lightning.

But you cannot tell me that the “Father Knows Best -esque” bureaucratic NFL does not want to rein players in that look unsightly in their opinion. The NFL is running a VERY dangerous course by forcing player appearance, they already dictate everything with uniforms down to towel length and socks not being pulled up so apparently “hair” is the next step. I will be interested to see what will happen if the rule passes and a respected veteran like Steelers safety Troy Troy Polamalu doesn’t want to “tuck” his hair.

I personally really don’t care how many tattoos a player has or if his hair is down to his waist. The key matter in player evaluation is whether the guy can bring the “wood” on the field or not. I like that some guys have the unusual “forget image” attitude that they are willing to express themselves in a sport where uniformity has gotten out of control. Plus as Dolphins running back Ricky Williams learn if you play with long hair, it is okay for an opponent to use it against you.

It will take 24 positive votes from the 32 franchises for the measure to pass and if it does look for some fun “barber” fireworks come training camp time.